The Simunye Project

In the summer of 2016, Michael Bakan worked with St. Martin de Porres, a Jesuit parish and school located in Soweto, South Africa. St. Martin teaches grades 8-12 and maintains a focus on academic achievement in an area where many youth are still facing the residual effects of apartheid.

Michael’s work at St. Martin was threefold; he led youth ministry events and retreats, taught a writing and graphic design class at the school, and developed a publication platform for exchange of individual stories between individuals at St. Martin and members of the greater international community. His interest with St. Martin’s youth ministry stems from previous experience with Jesuit teachings both at his high school and through Georgetown. The publication platform Michael created related his work in Soweto back to Georgetown and other places as he seeks to develop a dialogue between interested communities and St. Martin School.